Fleet Equipment News
Commercial freight transportation is a machine-based business. Highly technical equipment and advanced engineering are at the center of supply chain and require constant innovation. Transport Topics equipment coverage focuses on the machines and other physical assets that make delivery possible. It looks closely at available truck, trailer, and chassis models, developments in the engineering space, and maintenance innovations and best practices.
Used Class 8 Prices Rise as Inventory Tightens and Demand Slows, ACT Reports
The price of the average used Class 8 truck in November rose by $8,000 to $47,675 compared with a year earlier as inventory tightened, ACT Research Co. reported, noting demand for the vehicles is slowing in some quarters.
Trucker Buddy Program Helps Drivers, Students Form Special Bond
To a child, large trucks can seem intimidating and truck drivers might be viewed as tough and unfriendly. A program called Trucker Buddy International helps squash misconceptions by connecting school-aged children with drivers.
FMCSA OKs Stoneridge Camera System as Alternative to Mirrors
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Dec. 26 announced it has issued a five-year exemption to Stoneridge Inc. to allow its aftermarket MirrorEye mirrorless digital camera and sensor system to be installed on trucks and motorcoaches as an alternative to traditional mirrors.
Freight Transportation Profits, Prospers
Without a doubt, 2018 was a banner year for trucking and almost every other form of freight transportation. Business investment took off, hiring picked up and freight volume soared with both domestic and international shipments sharing in the bounty.
Report: US Miscalculated Benefit of Better Train Brakes
BILLINGS, Mont. — President Donald Trump’s administration miscalculated the potential benefits of putting better brakes on trains that haul explosive fuels when it scrapped an Obama-era rule over cost concerns, The Associated Press has found. A government analysis used to justify the cancellation omitted up to $117 million in estimated future damages from train derailments that could be avoided by using electronic brakes.
Sectors Surge in Second Half
A deeper dive into trucking data showed a big year for the industry across three specific sectors, particularly after July. The numbers also portend glad tidings for 2019.
December 25, 2018Levandowski Launches New Venture Pronto to Offer Level 2 Automation to Class 8 Truckers
Autonomous vehicle pioneer Anthony Levandowski has formed a new software company called Pronto. Its first aftermarket product, Copilot, provides camera-based self-driving technology for the Class 8 market.
Marangoni Tread North America Announces Tennessee Plant Expansion
Marangoni Tread North America, a full-service retread products supplier, announced it had begun expanding its tread manufacturing plant in Tennessee.
December 21, 2018Daimler Delivers Freightliner Electric Truck to Penske
Daimler Trucks North America on Dec. 20 delivered to Penske Truck Leasing the first in a series of electric trucks Penske plans to deploy in California and the Pacific Northwest.
December 20, 2018Plugging Into an Electric Future
On our Dec. 19 LiveOnWeb program, we were “Plugging Into an Electric Future” as we assessed the rapid escalation of development and deployment of electric vehicle technology.
December 19, 2018